November 1982

To strengthen the base, the firmness of the legs:

1. Think of the angle between the two feet as being usually 45 degrees: most of us in the class currently have it wider than that. Thus, for example, in Single Whip the right foot should point directly forwards rather than being angled out to the side. Bringing the foot further in will realign the knees too, and strengthen the base.

2. Think of sinking lower as an expansion of the thighs and knees in both directions. We currently have a tendency to lean more towards one side and stretch the knee out over that foot, slightly straightening the other leg and angling the torso. This is encouraged in some other martial arts, but not in Tai Ji, as it distorts the whole form.

Also Miss Li said that as one comes up to stretching in full at the end of each form one should be slowing down, then beginning the next form by speeding up slightly, rather than vice versa, or a constant speed throughout. This gives greater force and definition to the form.

One often notices that those who have difficulties and problems to work on in Tai Ji move very much deeper in their practice all of a sudden once the difficulty is overcome. Perhaps this is because they have had to work harder. The same is true in life: the great saints had to overcome great temptations; the great masters had to confront great obstacles.